Recording instrument



Nov. 17, 1936. R. E. FRAHER ET AL RECORDING INSTRUMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 18, 1932 Nov. 17, 1936. R. E. FRAHER Er AL RECORDINGINSTRUMENT Filed May 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet.- 2

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Nov. 17, 1936 R, E FRAHER T 2,060984 RECORDING INSTRUMENT Filed May 18,1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 frame/28e s Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,960,984 RECORDING INSTRUMENT Robert E. Fraher, Chicago,John M. Butler,

Evanston, andAlbert E. Hendricks and Carl E. L. 'Lipman, Chicago, 111.,assignors to Practical Instrument Company, Chicago,

tion of Illinois.

111., a corpora- Application May 18, 1932, Serial No. 612,100

6 Claims.

which a chart moved by clockwork is traversed by a marker controlled byconditions to be recorded.

Among other objects the invention aims to improve such instruments witha view to facilitating replacement of charts and especially with a viewto permitting such replacements without disturbing the marker. A furtherobject is to improve such instruments with a view to increasing theirpracticability, efllciency and convenient serviceability, and moreparticularly to provide very practical, reliable and convenientinstruments adapted for use by engineers in field work or for servicingpurposes. Other objects are to provide an improved recordingthermometer, and to provide an improved operation recorder. A

These and other incidental objects and advantages of the invention willmore fully appear from the following description with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which are illustrated an improved recordingthermometer and an improved operation recorder. 'The instruments soillustrated embody in common certain constructions and featurescomprehended in the invention, and respectively'embody specificimprovements comprehended in the invention.

In said drawings: a

Fig. 1 is a .front elevation of said recording thermometer.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing in front elevation a part ofthe back plate of thefront door of the instrument and the pen or markerand its controlling means carried by said plate.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a right-hand end elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail front end view of the clock spindle.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the instrument showing the front doorswung to open-position and illustrating how the chart is by an easymanipulation mounted in place in the instrument. Fig. 8 is an inneriace'view of the main front member of the front door.

Fig. 9 is a back view of the instrument.

Fig. 10 is a view like Fig. 3 of the corresponding part oi an operationrecorder which, except for the part illustrated in Fig. 10, is otherwiseof the same construction as the instrument illustrated in'the precedingfigures.

Fig. 11 is a top plan viewof Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a right-hand end view of Fig. 10.

A specific description of the illustrative instruments will now be made,it being understood that such description is not intended to limit theinvention beyond the terms of the claims appended to this specification.

Recording thermometer Referring first to the recording thermometer shownin Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, it will be understood that the circular charti l, which may be of conventional type, is rotated'by a clock movementcontained in the case 2, and that the -face of the chart (on which theradiating curved lines represent consecutive time periods while theconcentric circular divisions indicate different specific temperatures)is traversed by a pen 3 controlled to move toward or from the center ofthe chart in accordance with the temperature of the compartment, room orother place in which the instrument is used, so as to record thetemperature at successive periods of time by the inked line drawn by thepen on the chart.

The chart, consisting of an appropriately marked paper record disk, isaffixed on the front stub end l of the spindle which is driven by theclock movement at such rate as to eflect one complete revolution of thechart in twenty-four hours or other predetermined interval of time, andfor this purpose there may be employed any conventional twenty-four hourclock movement or, if the instrument be intended for a twelvehour chartor chart designed for an operation of other than twenty-four hours,there may be employed any conventional twelve-hour or otherclockmovement as the case may require. Such clock movements'are so well knownas to be um" necessary to illustrate in detail. In Fig. 2, the clockmovement or mechanism of a conventional twenty-four hour clock ispartially revealed, this mechanism being represented as mounted in ahousing 6 which is afllxed to the-back of the face plate 1 of the clockcase 2. Said face plate lie in this instance a sheet metal plate aflixedto the front or the main body of the clock case by suitable fasteningscrews. As shown in Fig. 2 the clock case is rabbetedto receive saidfront piste. The clock winder stem 8, the setting stem t, and

the regulator Hi, all of which are ordinary features of clock movements,are shown protruding through the back wall of the clock case. Bymanipulation of the setting stem 9, the clock spindle 5 can be turned toset the chart in any desired position relative to the index or pointer ii, just as the ordinary clock hands can be set by turning the settingstem of an ordinary clock. This adjust- I ment would be made at thebeginning of the recording operation. That is to say, after mounting thechart in place and winding the clock, the setting stem will'be turned tobring the initial :time line or division of the chart into registrationwith the pointer Ii, so that the recording will commence at that line.The pointer il may be a small projection struck up from the sheet metalface plate I and arranged to overlie the margin of the chart, assistingin keeping it in place.

It will be observed that the projecting stub end 4 of the clock spindleis of noncircular or squared shape, preferably of the oblong shape shown(Figs. 1 and 6), and the center opening in the chart is correspondinglyshaped. This simple expedient obviates the need of fastening means tosecure the chart fast to the clock spindle, and enables the chart to beeasily affixed to the spindle by merely fitting it thereon, promotingexpedition in the replacement of the charts. It is obviously muchsimpler merely to fit the chart on the noncircular stub end of thespindle, than to have to unfasten and replace a nut which in theordinary recording instrument is used in conjunction with a circularthreaded spindle end to secure the chart in place. 1

The pen 3, typifying any suitable marker, may be of the ordinary typeadapted to holda small supply of ink for feeding to the pen point. Thispen carried by the sheet metal arm It bearslightly on the chart, beingheld thereagainst by the very slightly stressed Said arm I3 is mountedon and fast to the spindle I of a thermostatic controlling meansrepresented by a bimetallic strip in the form of acoil IS. The inner endof the coiled bimetallic strip is fast to the rotatably mounted spindle15, while the outer end is attached at H to a fixture therefor providedin this instance by the bracket is in which the thermostatic controllingmeans is mounted.

It will be understood that the coil II by expansive or contractlveaction turns the spindle carrying the arm l3, thereby moving the pentoward or away from the center of the chart, the direction of suchmovement depending upon whether the .temperature is increasing ordecreasing. As the turning movement of thespindle I! is the diiferentialresult of the unequal expansion or contraction of the two metals at theopposite sides of the coiled strip, it follows that only a slightturning movement will-be imparted to the spindle, while by reason of thelength of the arm II a consider-.

ably greater movement willbe imparted to the As clearly appears fromFigs. 1', 2 and 7, the pen and its controlling mechanism are carried ina hinged front door, which is constructed to house said parts. The frontdoor in this instance comprises the -front housing member 2., having awindow through which the chart is exposed, and

a sheet metal back plate 2| secured to said front member by suitableattaching screws. In this connection it will be observed that the pen Iis arranged between the chart and the transparent window pane Ill, andthat the bracket I. carrying the thermostatic controlling means isarranged within the space provided by the bulging lower the screw 2!carried by the other branch of said U-shaped bracket. Said rivetconnection indicated at as secures the bracket substantially tightly tothe door plate but nevertheless permits the bracket to be rocked on therivet connection for adjustment, this being controlled by thecallbrating screw 2! whose head is swiveled in a ing 28 on the doorplate and whose threaded stem is in screwed engagement with a lug 21 onthe bracket. By this means the bracket .can be adjusted angulariy to setthe pen-holding arm II in exactly the right position, such calibrationbeing made initially at the factory where the instrument ismanufactured. A lug II struck up from the sheet metal door plate 2|projects forwardiy between the prongs ll of the bifurcated lower tailportion of the pen-holding arm I! and functions as a motion-limitingstop for said arm. A wire spring I! affixed to the door plate II asshown in Figs. 3 to 5 bears lightly on the chart and assists in holdingit in place.

When the door is swung'to open position as shown in Fig. 7, the pen andpresser finger I! automatically clear the chart. being swung with theirassociated parts out of the way, but without the slightest disturbanceof the pen or its carry- I ing arm I! in relation to its controllingmeans. Upon closing the door, the pen is automatically restored toproper operative position in relation to the chart, as also the presserfinger II. This is a highly advantageous feature of the present inven'-'tion. In ordinary recording instruments having the pen controlled bymechanism mounted in the clock case, the overlapping of the chart by thepen-holding arm interferes with easy insertion or removal of the chart.The replacement of charts in such ordinary instruments is a somewhatfussy operation since the operator must displace the pen I with hisfingers while installing or removing a chart. This is objectionable notonly because of the trouble and inconvenience but also because the penand its holding arm are delicate parts which ought not to be interferedwith. Obviating this difliculty, the present invention provides aconstruction whereby the pen and associated controlling means are bodilydisplaced by the mere opening of the door, leaving the face of the clockcase free, so that the chart can be readily removed its margin under thepointer ll while fitting the chart on the stub end 4 of the clockspindle, which may be very expeditiously and easily performed 111 118 arlnannerjwhich will be readily apparent from Thehinging -of the door tothe clock case is accomplished by constructing the confronting sheetmetal plates I and II as hinge plates, or in other words forming theseplates with integral interfltted hinge portions 3| sleeved to receivethe vertical hinge pintle II. This provides a very strong hinge wherebythe door is prevented from sagging, and the proper relationship of theparts carried by the door to the clock caseand chart mounted thereon isassumed Also the expense of separate hinges is avoided. i

The door when closed is fastened by a suitable latch which, for example,may be of the construction shown consisting of a pivoted member 38mounted on the back face of the door plate 2| and formed with a lug 84adapted to enter the hole Olin the clock face plate I (Fig. 7) and to beturned thereon to cheese the rear side of said The window panel 80 inthe door consists preferably of a circular disk of transparentcelluloid, suitably mounted as shown in Fig. 2. Such celluloid windowpanel has the advantage of not being marginal flange and an annular wall31 framing.

the transparent window panel, this annular wall being rabbeted toprovide a reduced portion 38 which fits in' the circular opening of theback door plate 2 I, while the marginal flange encloses said back plate,so that the parts are'nicely interfltted. Said annular wall 31 is cutaway at 39 to accommodate the movement of the pen-holding arm l3. Lugsindicated at-40 in Fig. 8 receive the attaching screws for the backplate 2 l The bulging portion of the door member which houses the coilI6 is shown as of reticulated form at 4|, proiding a multiplicity of airpassages for free circulation of air around the thermostatic controllingmeans. Other air openings are indicated at 42, and still others at 43 inthe back plate 2|, so that there may be a free circulation of air fromthe room through the entire door.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 9, the base of the clock case 2 is formed toprovide a horizontal compartment or receptacle 45 open at the rear whichreceptacle contains a pile of charts 46 held in place on the bottom ofthe receptacle by the spring presser 41 attached to the top wall of saidreceptacle. Thus there is provided in the instrument case a convenientsupply of charts for use when the instrument is employedin-fleld tests.Also the back wall of the clock case is formed to provide a pocket foran ink bottle 48 secured in place by the spring clasp 49. The bottlestopper may be provided with a dropper, so that when the instrument isinstalled for use in the field the operator can conveniently supply .adrop of ink to.

' the pen.

This instrument, containing a supply of charts and bottle of ink, may befurnished by the manufacturer in a suitable case for convenientportability, and may be carried about and used for such purposes, forexample; as obtaining twentyfour hour temperature records of automaticrefrigerators. It can be installed for use in a refrigerator box orother place of use very easily and quickly, without any fussy ortroublesome operations, search for lost parts. or other annoying delays,and without the necessity of making'adjustments of the instrument fromtime to time. When the front of the instrument is opened, the penautomatical y clears the chart, and a new chart is easily slipped underthe pointer and over the hub as previously explained.

The setting stem of the clock in the rear is thenturned to register thechart properly with the I pointer, which indicates where the pen willtouch the chart when the door is closed. It is then- .ne concentriccircular lines. "Qn'acoount of the functions as an axle for the sleeve.

small size of such indicia, only a few of the time indicia have beenshown on the chart in this instance.

Attention is called to the fact that the pen 3 is arranged so that thepen point will register with the same time line that the pointer llregisters Wlth and that the pen-holding arm 13 is of such length and sofulcrumed that the pen in moving to or from the the center of the diskwill follow the curved time line with which the pointer registers. Instarting the operation, the operator wil adjust the chart to registerthe proper time line with the pointer. For instance, suppose theoperation starts at four oclock P. M.

The operator will bring the four P. M. time line into registration withthe pointer, and as the pen is positioned at that line the chart at theend of twenty-four hours will show the proper record Operation recorderFigs. 10, 11 and 12 taken in conjunction with Figs. 1, 2, '1, 8 and 9illustrate an operation recorder which is the same in construction asthe instrument already described except that in the operation recorderthe rear plate 2| of the front door carries the controlling mechanismshown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 instead of the controlling mechanism shownin Figs. 3, 4 and 5. r

This operation recorder is intended to record the on and 01T" periods ofoperation of an electric motor, e. g. the motor of an electricrefrigerator which, as is well understood, is thermostaticallycontrolled to run only when the temperature in the refrigerator box.rises above a predetermined limit.

In the case of the operation recorder, the pen is controlled to occupyone position when the motor is running and another position when themotor is not running, so that the on and off periods ofthe motor will beindicated on the chart by radially ofiset lines drawn by the pen.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 the parts which are identical with those of thefirst described instrument are indicated by the same reference nection,the spindle l5 mounted in said bracket,

and the pen-holding arm I3. In this instance the pen-holding arm insteadof being rigidly mounted or fast to the spindle I5 is attached to asleeve 50 rotatablyfltted .on said spindle which To the same sleeve 50is attached a weighted arm in the form of a sector-shaped member 5|which actuates .the/pen-holding arm to moveinwardly or to a positionnearer the center of the chart than the normal position shown in'Fig.10. A projection 52 struck up from the sheet metal member 5| overlies alever 53 which is normally held up in the position shown by its weighted.or enlarged heavier end 54, thereby holding thepen-holdlng arm in theposition shown. In this position the line drawn by the pen indicatesthat the motor is of! or not running. v

'The lever 53 is pivotally mounted inthe braget ll, being attached to asleeve I! which is rotatably fitted on an axle 56 mounted in saidbracket. Said lever 53 has a T-shaped end constituting an armature 51adjacent to the ends of the legs and 59 of the U-shaped soft iron coreof an electromagnet, the coil 60 of which is shown on the lower leg ofsaid core. This core is attached to but insulated from the door plate2!, being so attached by means of the bolts ii and spacing sleeves 62,there being suitable insula; tion material 63 between the plate andsleeves. The coil 60 is adapted to be connected in series with the motorwhose operations are to be recorded, so that, when the motor is running,the electromagnet being energized will attract the armature. member 51carried by the lever 58. rocking the lever downwardly, this motion beinglimited by the stop 6! adapted to engage the leg 58 of the core. Whenthe lever isso depressed, the weight 5| will move the pen-holding arminwardly or toward the left in Fig. 10, and the pen-holding arm will beheld in this position so long as the motor is running. When the motorstops, the electromagnet being de-energized releases the armature, andunder influence of the weight 54 the pen-holding arm will be returned toits -normal position, so that the pen will record the off or nonrunningcondition of the motor until it is again started.

The construction shown in Fig. 10, having the fulcrum of the weightedlever 53 located near the weight and behind the fulcrum of the pen-hold-.ing arm 13, has the advantage that downward movement of the weight 54when the magnet is deenergized does not cause the pen-holding arm to bejerked outwardly so suddenly as to dislodge ink from the pen; and whenthe magnet is energized with the result of lowering the lever 53 thepen-holding arm is gently moved inwardly by the light weight provided bythe sheet metal sector-shaped part 5! formed as an integral extensionfrom the pen-holding arm. n

In an electric refrigerator, the motor circuit usually has terminals ata socket in the refrigerator case, and connection between said terminalsand the terminals of a house circuit is ordinarily made by a flexibleextension cord comprising a Pair of insulated wires whose terminals areconnected to plugs at the ends of the cord, one plug adapted forconnection with a wall socket in the room in which the refrigerator is.used, and the other adapted for connection with the socket in therefrigerator case. In Figs. 10 and 11, such an extension cord isrepresented by the pair of insulated wires 65 and 86 and the rubbertubing 61 and it enclosing the same. This extension cord is so attachedto the door plate II as to provide the two branches 1 or 68, the branch01 being for connection with the wall socket of the room, and the branch88 being for connection with .therefrigerator. It will be understoodthat these two branches, which are in effect two extension cords, arerespectively equipped with suitable plugs for making the respectiveelectrical connections with the refrigerator and house circuit.

As will be apparent from Fig. 10, the magnet coil 10 is included in oneoi' the wires Cl. The other rrant door member 2| is shown having notchesI2 (Fig. 8) to accommodate these branches.

Thus the instrument is equipped for convenient installation in suchmanner that when the electrical connections are made the magnet coil IIwill be included'in the motor circuit Consequently, depending uponwhether or not the motor runs (which in turn is controlled by athermostatic switch in the refrigerator), the magnet will be energizedorde-energized. Hence the pen will occupy one position while the motoris running and another while it is not running, and the on and of!periods willaccordingly be recorded on the chart.

What we claim and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

l.'A recording instrument having, in combination, a clock case havingaface plate, a clock movement mounted therein behind said face plate andincluding a spindle protruding through said face plate, on theprotruding end of which spindle a circular chart is adapted to bemounted. a marker arranged to engage the face of said chart, carryingmeans for said marker, mechanism controlling said marker to shift itsposition posedto view. and said controlling mechanism' and carryingmeans for the marker being mounted on the front side of said back platewithin said door.

, 2. A recording instrument having. in combination, flat platesconstructed as leaf hinge members, a clock movement mounted on one ofsaid plates, said clock movement including a spindle protruding throughsaid plate and adapted to have a chart afiixed thereon, a marker adaptedto engage such chart, means carrying said marker from the other plate,controlling mechanism for the marker mounted on said other plate, thesaid plates being hinged together and normally confronting and havingthe respective parts carried thereby arranged at the sides of the platesopposite their confronting faces, a case containing said clock movementand to which is separably affixed as a face plate the said platecarrying said clock movement, and a front housing section enclosing saidcontrolling mechanism and marker and to which is separably affixed as aback plate the said plate carrying said controlling mechanism, the saidfront housing section having a window, and the said back plate of thefront housing section having an opening in registration with saidwindow, through which opening and window the chart is exposed to view.3. A recording instrument having, in combination. a clock casecomprising a recessed body having a separable face plate, the front sideof the body being rabbeted to receive said face plate, a door hinged tosaid body, said door comprising a front housing member having arearwardly extending marginal flange abutting the front side of saidbody and having a separable back plate fitted within said flange, saidfront housing member having a transparent window pane and said backplate having an opening in registration therewith,'said front housingmember having an annular wall framing said window pane and rabbeted tofit within the opening in said back plate. a clock movementmounted onthe backside of said face plate, said clock movement including a spindleprotruding through said face plate. on the protruding end of whichspindle a chart is adapted to be aflixed and to be viewed through saidopening and window pane, a marker arranged between said window pane andback plate adapted to engage the face of such chart, and mechanismmounted on the front side of the back plate of the door and enclosed bysaid do'or carrying said marker and controlling the same to shift itsposition in accordance with variations in conditions to be recorded.

4. In a recording instrument of the type in which a chart revolved byclockwork is traversed by a marker, a lever arm carrying said marker, abracket in which the lever arm is pivotally mounted, means cooperatingwith the lever arm and bracket and controlled in accordance withvariations in conditions to be recorded for actuating the lever arm, asupport to which said bracket is pivotally attached concentrically withthe pivot of the lever arm, and an adjusting screw connecting saidsupport and bracket.

5. In a recording instrument of the type in which a chart revolved byclockwork is traversed by a marker, the combination with said clockwork,mafker and carrier arm therefor and mechanism for controlling said armto shift the position of the marker in accordance with variations inconditions to be recorded, or an instru- 'ment case comprising hingedhousing sections,

one of said sections containing said clockwork and the other containingsaid carrier arm and controlling mechanism therefor, said housingsections being provided with confronting plates constructed as hingemembers by which the two sections are hinged together, said clockmovement being mounted on one of said plates and the driven spindlethereof protruding through said plate to receive the chart, the saidcontrolling mechanism being mounted on the other plate which is formedwith an opening for exposure of the chart therethrough, and the sectionwhich contains said marker and controlling mechanism having a window inline with the chart and said opening,

6. In a recording instrument of the type wherein a revolving chartoperated by clockwork is traversed by a marker, a housing elementcontaining said clockwork, said element having a clock and chartcarrying closure plate provided with a hinge part, and a recessed coverhousing element having a marker-carrying plate provided with a hingepart, said hinge parts being pivotally jointed so that the plates may bepositioned in substantially parailel adjacent planes, the housingelements being removably secured to said plates on their non-adjacentfaces so that when the plates are in the parallel adjacent planesaforesaid the housing elements form a' closed housing.

ROBERT E. FRAHERfi JOHN M. BUTLER.

ALBERT E. HENDRICKS. CARL E. L. LIPMAN.

